Tyrone Crawford charged in bar brawl

An NFL star with Windsor-Essex ties has been charged in connection with a bar fight that was caught on tape.

According to the celebrity news website TMZ, Windsor native Tyrone Crawford is facing a single misdemeanour charge of unlawful assembly after the altercation outside the Coyote Ugly bar in Panama City, Florida on March 15.

The video, taken from someone’s cell phone, appears to show the Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle in a fight with bouncers.

TMZ reported that the trouble began when Crawford’s party was asked to leave the bar because one of them was allegedly harassing staff.

It was not clear if Crawford was ever placed under arrest, but TMZ reported that Crawford is pleading not guilty to the charge, which carries up to 60-days in jail upon conviction. Crawford may also face disciplinary action from the NFL.

He will have a chance to answer to the charge next month when he appears in court.

Crawford grew up in Windsor and was a three-sport athlete at Catholic Central High School. He played college football at Boise State and was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He currently plays under an eight-year contract.